General Discussion

Gaming addiction is akin to Asperger's syndrome.

This is the conclusion of Dr John Charlton of the University of Bolton and Ian Danforth of Whitman College, USA. The researchers questioned 391 computer game players, 86 per cent of whom were male (well, who'd have thunk it?). They considered relationships between addiction, 'high engagement' and personality.

The boffs believe that duvet-wearing soar-thumbed console addicts are not classifiable as having Aspergers syndrome but share some of the characteristics, as they find it easier to empathise with their console than other people.

They found the closer the players got to addiction the more likely they were to display negative personality traits associated with high-functioning autism. These were neuroticism, and lack of extraversion and agreeableness.

Dr Charlton said: "Our research supports the ideas that people who are heavily involved in game playing may be nearer to autistic spectrum disorders than people who have no interest in gaming."

kk then, I think that I will just go and count some fallen toothpicks or something, cards maybe :)

hehe, from what I've seen then alot of WoW players are really sick, sheesh the hours some of them put in is crazy...

If this is a provable condition then here in the US we can claim a disability and not have to work. Which of course will allow for more time to play while the goverment foots the bill.

Note: The above post is in no way meant to be a negative comment against people who are disabled or who recieve federal or state  funds for a disability of any type.

Those who can do, those who can't say we have a disorder to further justify their own salaries. Whats next we're all addicted to oxygen?

Originally posted by Kurir

Those who can do, those who can't say we have a disorder to further justify their own salaries. Whats next we're all addicted to oxygen?

  If you think you need your MMO as much as you need oxygen, you have a problem.  And no we are not addicted to oxygen we are dependent on oxygen.  Big difference.

This is a clear example of an article trying to build up 'SHOCK value" by putting two BUZZWORDS together. Bascially Autism (gee, and its national autism awareness month...go figure) and World of Warcraft. Basically this article isnt one destined for a journal of science..its destined for Cosmo or People Magazine

Torrential

notice the use of "console" in the OP, though.

We're PC gamers...a different kind of "sicko"

I once considered that I might be clinically insane but luckily one of the voices in my head was a psychotherapist and she says I'm ok.

LOL we live in a world where everyone has a problem and has to be medicated...How Fing Stupid!!!!

There is an MMO addiction but at least im not destroying my body with drugs or alcohol. 

MMO's are a hobby not an autistic problem...... WHO PAYS THESE PPL? I WANT IN!!!!!

I read this story in a newspaper today and it was presented very differently.

It basically said that a FEW gamers [never mentioned consoles or PC's just gamers] Have symptoms resembling Drug addiction and some of these addicts have a higher chance of developing Autism like symptoms.

So it seems the Op got his info from someone who liked to exudate it seems or it was the Op himself

Personally i agree with this article i read as it is possable when you consider a child from say 7 years old spending a lot of his free time playing games on consoles and computers till a late age [say 14]. Sucha situation Will have an effect on that